Miami hosted 2028 Rivals300 tight end JC Wessel for a multi-day visit over the weekend.
The Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles product enjoyed getting his first look at the program.
“It was really good,” Wessel said. “It was really cool. We got a tour of everything. We met all the coaches. Every coach was awesome and nice. I had never been to Miami or that area before. It was pretty shocking to me. I was like, ‘wow.’ It was crazy to see everything. I loved it.”
Wessel notched a Miami offer last month when new tight ends coach Mike Viti stopped by his school.
The two only strengthened their relationship during the visit.
“I feel like we have a great connection,” Wessel said. “He was at Army before. My uncle went to West Point, too. I’ve talked to my uncle a lot about that and personal life. I feel like I have a really good connection with Coach Viti. He can be a coach to me, but he can also be a role model and someone I can talk to.”
Wessel was also able to spend time with Miami head coach Mario Cristobal.
“It was sick,” Wessel said. “I was like, ‘wow, it’s Coach Cristobal.’ We went to his office, and he has a ton of rings. That was really cool. I got to understand his story and how he’s thinking about the program. He wants to continue to raise the standard for the program. It was really awesome.”
At 6-foot-6, 227 pounds, Wessel is ranked as the No. 5 tight end and No. 116 overall prospect nationally, per the Rivals Industry ranking. Wessel is an impressive pass catcher who also has the frame to add plenty of weight at the next level.
Wessel has a ton of upside as well. He only has two years of football experience under his belt after focusing on basketball and swimming. Overall, Wessel is a prospect on the rise who sees himself as a potential fit at Miami.
“We went over the film, and they stretch the field with their tight ends,” Wessel said. “It kind of like Gronk (Rob Gronkowski). He’s my idol. They can get the plays in big moments. They can stretch the field. They are in a position where the quarterback can always rely on you. In my high school film, there are a lot of plays where I stretch the field. I can see the similarities of how I play and how the tight ends are used at Miami.”
Along with Miami, Wessel also holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and others.
Wessel is taking a measured approach to the process, but Miami is firmly in the mix early on.
“Miami has definitely been one of my favorite visits so far,” Wessel said. “It was really cool, especially the weather (laughs). It’s definitely a school I would be interested in going to. When I was there, it felt like I had a good connection with Coach Viti. Everybody is really together like a brotherhood. I’m interested in science and being a doctor. Miami has a really good school for health. Being there, you can tell the players are focused and determined to set a new standard. I know that is going to continue with Coach Cristobal.”
Wessel is looking to get back to Miami for a game this fall.
Now an in-state recruit, Wessel recently transferred from Frederica Academy in Georgia to Bolles, where he’ll play alongside two big 2028 Miami targets in five-star EDGE Asher Ghioto and Rivals300 running back Xander Edwards.
“We talked about Miami, and we all love Miami,” Wessel said. “Xander is probably who I’ve talked to the most at Bolles. He’s really cool and good at football. So is Asher. It’s like a family at Bolles. We’re definitely building something for this season. We’re getting ready to win a championship.”